Write Comment     |     E-Mail To a Friend     |     Facebook     |     Twitter     |     Print

Top Opposition leaders including Sonia Gandhi today lashed out at the Narendra Modi government for "doing nothing other than ’show-baazi’" by slashing allocations to all major social security schemes like MGNREGA.

Addressing the ’Swabhiman Rally’ here along with top leaders of JD(U), RJD and SP, Gandhi said "Modi-government has completed one-fourth of its time. Till now, what has it done other than ‘show-baazi’..It has done nothing. You know better than me."

She attacked the BJP-led regime for not fulfilling its promise to provide employment to one crore people but also restricting job opportunities in the government and said the funds for major social security schemes like MGNREGA have been "heavily slashed".

Targeting Modi for his DNA remarks, Gandhi said the Prime Minister has demeaned Bihar and shown its people in a bad light. "Some people take pleasure in mocking Bihar. Whenever they get opportunity they comment about its DNA and culture. They also call it BIMARU," she said.

On government’s decision to allow Land Bill to lapse, Gandhi said that Modi had to bow to people’s will by giving up the ordinance.

"This is an anti-farmer government. They want to grab their land and distribute it among their rich friends. We fought for the protection of farmers’ rights in the Parliament and in the end government had to bow down," she asserted.

Present on the dais were Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, RJD chief Lalu Prasad, JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav and SP leader Shivpal Yadav, among others.

Nation shocked, pained at Gujarat violence: PM

In his first reaction on the recent Gujarat violence over the quota issue, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said the incidents, which claimed at least ten lives, had upset the entire nation.

"The recent incidents of violence in Gujarat has upset the entire nation. Whatever happens to the land of Gandhi and Sardar Patel, the nation is shocked and pained first," he said in his radio programme ’Mann Ki Baat’.

Appreciating the people of Gujarat, Modi said their cooperation helped in controlling the situation. "In a very short time, my Gujarati brothers and sisters controlled the situation. They played an active role and did not let the situation worsen and peace was restored in the state.

Urging people to work together for development, he said that development alone will solve all problems.

"Peace, unity and brotherhood are the only correct way and we have to walk together on the path of development as only it is the solution of our problems," he said.

Will widen reservation movement: Hardik Patel

Patel community leader Hardik Patel on Sunday vowed to join hands with other communities to widen the movement over reservation in education and jobs.

"We will mobilise this movement for all communities, not just the Patidars," the Patidar Arakshan Andolan Samiti convener told the media here after arriving from Gujarat.

He said he would support the Gujjar community in Delhi.

The reservation policy had taken the country 60 years back, Patel said. He made it clear that he did not enjoy the support of any political party.

Ten people were killed and scores injured as protests demanding reservation in education and jobs for the Patel community turned violent in Gujarat last week.